If you’ve heard about the rise of co-working spaces popping up in most Australian cities and thought, “what goes on in there?”, you’re not alone.
Most people unfamiliar with remote working, unsupervised workplaces, or what it’s like to work from home may think a co-working space is just for IT pros, app and web developers or writers. But, that’s not even close to the truth.
A lot of the rhetoric with co-working spaces is associated with technology or innovation hubs, and that can mean a variety of different things. While it’s true that State and Federal Governments are supporting these ‘hubs’ in a bid to put Australia on the global innovation map, not all co-working spaces are solely focused on the same thing.
What is a co-working space anyway?
Co-working spaces provide flexible office space to save business owners the expense and commitment of a 2 or 3-year lease paying thousands of dollars each month. A co-working space should cost a low, fixed daily or monthly rate which includes great internet coverage, a personal desk and chair, and enough privacy with kitchen and bathroom facilities.
Optional extras may include mail handling, meeting rooms, and the opportunity to hold networking events and social catch ups.
If you’re lucky, you’ll find a co-working space with enough car parking close by, and be nestled amongst a vibrant social scene with cafés, bars and restaurants that attract a lot people and traffic right pass your ‘office’.
If you’re super lucky, you’ll find a co-working space across the road from the beach with free Friday beers … just like Burleigh Space 🙂
Is a co-working space right for me?
Just like most things, it’s different strokes for different folks. You need to find the right co-working space that suits you, and should never waste your time in one that doesn’t quite hit the mark.
Take Burleigh Space, for example. Our members consist of content marketers, senior sales managers, a plumbing organisation, migration lawyers, career counselors and small business HR consultants. Of course, we also have IT pros and web developers, but as you can see it’s not only for those “techy” types at all.
Our members are married, singles and parents. They’re business owners, interstate and remote employees, contractors and consultants.
All of these people bring something unique to our co-working workplace. It’s a rare opportunity, for example, for a small business or start-up owner to rub shoulders every day with marketing and web development pros.
Everybody learns by osmosis. You can share information, provide leads, open up new networks and gain insights into other industries in a way you would never have had a chance to, otherwise.
So, is co-working right for you? Almost certainly, yes. It’s just a question of which co-working space will best suit your personal situation.
What should I look for in a co-working space?
If you’re considering joining a co-working space, you need to find the right one that suits you and your business or employment situation. Only you can truly know what is essential for a co-working space to work for you, and the last thing you want to do is get on board without running any due-diligence.
Here are a few of the most critical things you must check before jumping in head first:
- Car parking and transport – the first feeling you experience each day should not be frustration and anger, because it takes twice as long to find a car park as it did to get to the office in the first place.
- Internet – You’ve got crappy internet at home, right? Make sure you leave it there. If the workspace, café or building you’re working out of can’t cope with the load, get out of there!
- Flexibility – Can you access your co-working space 24/7? If not, think seriously about managing critical workloads when things aren’t going to plan. In any business, something can go wrong and require your attention at odd hours. Be ready to handle that.
- The people factor – While a busy co-working space may be great for business, it’s usually quite frustrating for its members. Is your workspace over-crowded? Can you get a quiet spot when things get too rowdy?
- Relationships – Do you feel comfortable with the management of the co-working space? Can you make requests and suggestions and know that the decision makers are hearing you? This can be extremely important to long-term viability of working at your most ideal co-working space.
CLICK HERE to get up to 3 free days at Burleigh Space!
Burleigh Space is a coworking space for innovative digital businesses and talented individuals from the creative and technical industries.
Located in the heart of Burleigh’s creative hub, we’re focused on building collaboration and community and bringing together complementary skills and services, to benefit all members.